Paths to Mesa Verde Project Moves Toward Land Negotiations

Prospects for the Paths to Mesa Verde trail from Cortez to Mancos appear good, but some obstacles remain.

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KSJD Newscast Part 2--February 6th, 2017

County public lands coordinator James Dietrich told the Montezuma County commissioners Monday that he is meeting with private landowners along the proposed 18-mile route. Dietrich said keypad polling at a public meeting February 1st showed strong support for the project, but there are some landowners who don’t want it crossing their property, citing concerns such as litter, graffiti, and dogs. Dietrich said in such cases, an alternate route will be sought. Chairman Larry Don Suckla said it’s possible the nonprofit Onward! A Legacy Foundation could become an umbrella organization for area trails, helping to provide funds for ongoing maintenance.

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The Montezuma County commissioners’ most recent town hall meeting in Mancos on Monday brought a larger turnout than the previous two that the county has held. KSJD's Gail Binkly was there, and she joined Austin Cope to talk about it more.

Last fall Montezuma County embarked on an ambitious plan: building a non-motorized, mixed-use trail between Cortez and Mancos by way of Mesa Verde. Supported by the Colorado Governor’s Office, the project is a collaboration between the county, various state and federal agencies, and the public. The next public meeting for the Paths to Mesa Verde is Tuesday night from 6 to 8pm at the Cortez Recreation Center. To learn more about the County’s progress, KSJD's Austin Cope sat down with Montezuma County Natural Resource Planning and Public Lands Coordinator James Dietrich.